It’s hard to believe the Summer Associate Program has come to an end. These ten weeks have absolutely flown by, and the final week was a perfect reflection of how much we’ve learned and grown throughout the program.
We started the week with a Direct and Cross Examination Workshop led by Scott Sarason and Suzanne Singer, which gave us the chance to practice our trial skills and receive detailed, constructive feedback. It was a great opportunity to sharpen our techniques heading into the final mock trial. We also participated in an Evidence Workshop led by Reggie Guillaume, which helped us revisit and reinforce key rules we’d be applying in the courtroom.
The rest of the week moved quickly, filled with assignments, lunches with associates and partners, and focused trial prep. My partner, Samantha Kuperberg, and I worked on strengthening our case theory and refining our presentation, incorporating thoughtful feedback from attorneys who generously shared their time and advice with us.
By the following Monday, we were finally in Orlando for the big event—the end of summer mock trial! It was held in the ceremonial courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse, which, fun fact, is the same courtroom that the Casey Anthony trial took place! We also had Judge DuBois preside which made the whole experience feel even more real. He did a great job at guiding us through the trial and making us feel comfortable the entire time. The witnesses were also fantastic and kept us on our toes. My favorite part were all of their different accents; we had to make sure to keep a straight face! Overall, everyone’s hard work and preparation really showed, I was proud of all of us.
What was especially cool was that the trial was live streamed, so even though the Tampa office couldn’t be there in person, everyone was still able to watch and cheer me on from afar. It was great to feel that support from everyone and it made all the difference.
After the trial, we headed back to the Orlando office for a happy hour to relax and celebrate. It was great to reconnect with the attorneys in the Orlando office and catch up on how everyone’s summer has been. On top of that, I was really excited and honored to be named Best Advocate in the mock trial competition! It was a great way to end the summer and seeing how much personal growth I have experienced was extremely rewarding.
Looking back, this summer has been such a valuable experience. I’ve learned more than I could have even imagined, not just about litigation and the law, but also about teamwork, being adaptable, and what it really means to grow professionally. I’m super grateful for everyone I’ve met, the opportunities I’ve had, and everything I’ve picked up over these last ten weeks.
Thank you to everyone who made this summer so memorable. Here’s to the beginning of my legal career!
